NSU Presents WWII Symposium Seven Decades Later

Sept. 24, 2012 - PRLog -- World War II Veterans, Historians and Riveters
Gather to Recall
“WWII Seven Decades Later”



TULSA, Okla, September 19, 2012 – Seven decades later, with America’s World War II veterans rapidly fading from the scene (some estimate 1,500 a day are passing away), the opportunity to meet such heroes in person is becoming increasingly rare.  This October, however, the citizens of Northeastern Oklahoma have the chance to listen to individuals who are often referred to as “The Greatest Generation” chronicle their stories at a special WWII symposium hosted by Northeastern State University’s Continuing Education department. Joining them will be a panel of distinguished historians and authors who will provide a broader perspective of the battles, campaigns and legacy.

2010 DaVinci Fellow and Northeastern State University Associate Professor
Dr. Linda Wilson developed the symposium’s curriculum with the purpose of honoring the WWII veterans while providing them with a platform to share their war experiences. Dr. Wilson is known for capturing compelling oral histories and through live interviews will unfold a series of profound history lessons. Among the speakers will be survivors from epic battleships - the USS Oklahoma, the USS Arizona and the USS West Virginia plus those that lived through such conflicts as the European and Pacific battles, with reflections of the D-Day invasions and Pearl Harbor. Dozens of stories will be brought to life once again, almost as clearly as if they had been fought yesterday.

WWII POWs will detail their experiences of imprisonment behind Germany’s enemy lines. From these accounts, the audience will be struck by the incredible circumstances that these brave men endured and their common exhibition of tremendous personal valor. Dr. Wilson will talk to an individual that lived across the street from the German POW camp in Bixby, Okla. Although locals were told not to talk to the prisoners, this Bixby native recalls the town gathering each Saturday to get a peek at the young Germans singing as they marched from their barracks to play a game of rugby.

Oklahoma Riveters will offer an interesting perspective of WWII on the home front. These iconic women worked in factories producing war supplies while male workers served in the military. The symposium ends with a tribute to VE Day (Victory in Europe) and VJ Day (Victory in Japan). Dr. Wilson’s father Ray Henshall gives a first-hand account of his end-of-war experiences serving in the US Navy aboard the USS Warren.


Symposium Schedule:
October 2, 2012      The Day that will live in Infamy – Pearl Harbor
October 9, 2012      Battles in Europe
October 16, 2012      Battles in the Pacific
October 23, 2012      World War II on the Home Front
October 30, 2012      POW’s
November 6, 2012      D Day Invasion/VE Day/VJ Day

Northeastern State University’s “World War II Symposium – Seven Decades Later” will be held Tuesday evenings from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., October 2 – November 6 at the NSU-BA Auditorium, Administration Building, 3100 East New Orleans, Broken Arrow, Okla., 74014. The symposium is open to the general public for $30.00 general admission, $15.00 for senior citizens and $27.00 for students. The symposium is FREE for all veterans. To register visit www.nsuce-events.org or contact Continuing Education at admin@nsuce.org or call 918-449-6000, ext. 4610.

Contacts:
Dr. Linda Wilson, NSU Associate Professor
918-779-5502 or 918-449-6590
wilsonla@nsuok.edu

Kelly Kirchhoff, Media representative
918-810-4173
seotulsa@cox.net

SOURCE:
Northeastern State University

RELATED LINKS:
www.nsuce-events.org